Updated Windsor Framework Guidance for Businesses Sending Parcels to Northern Ireland

Businesses shipping to Northern Ireland should prepare for the new regulations under The Windsor Framework , affecting parcel movements from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI) . These changes, take effect from May 1, 2025 .

Key Changes for Parcel Shipments

Under the new framework, senders will need to provide additional shipment data based on the type of sender and receiver:

• All Senders : Each item in the shipment must have a clear goods description in plain English, along with its weight, value, and country of origin .
• Business-to-Business (B2B) Shipments : Additional information will be required, and businesses are advised to begin preparations now .

‘Green’ Lane Shipments

Parcels moving to Northern Ireland under the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) may qualify for the ‘green’ lane if they are not at risk of entering the EU . Businesses using this route must:

• Review UKIMS scheme guidance.
• Register with the UK Government for a UKIMS number .
• Provide the sender or receiver’s UKIMS number as part of the shipment details.
• Ensure the UKIMS holder is declared as the importer on record .

Red Lane Shipments – Important Guidance

For business-to-business (B2B) shipments that do not qualify under the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) , goods will be classified as ‘at risk’ of moving beyond Northern Ireland into the EU. These shipments must include a full international dataset for customs declarations and will be subject to EU duty rates .

If you plan to ship red lane goods please contact your local Rapid Despatch International Courier office for further information.